New Nonprofit, Incubate Ferguson, Aims to Empower the City’s Residents

Rev.s Johnson and Lawler. Photograph courtesy of Open Road Communications

After the shooting of Michael Brown on August 9 last year, Ferguson was everywhere in the media; newspapers, television, magazines, you name it. But after the initial shock wore off, there hasn’t been a lot of follow-up on the actual city, or the well-being of its residents. But both of those things are the focus of a new nonprofit.

Incubate Ferguson seeks to re-spark the conversation about the community of Ferguson, and launch a community platform for social entrepreneurship and civic engagement there. The co-founders are Rev. Steve Lawler and Rev. F. Willis Johnson. Lawler is a pastor at St. Stephens Episcopal Church and The Vine in Ferguson. He’s also a professor of leadership and strategy at Washington University. Johnson is a pastor at Wellspring Church, and has volunteered and worked for multiple nonprofits.

“We saw potential in Ferguson, but no one providing the necessary resources,” Lawler says. “Incubate Ferguson is a way for people who want to make a change to get involved and improve their community.”

Though the co-founders are both pastors, they emphasize that it is not a faith-based project.

“We are not focused on gaining members in our churches,” Lawler explains. “We are focused on being faithful to Ferguson and helping the community.”

Incubate Ferguson connects people to resources for social improvement; the connections give people the opportunity to get their ideas heard. It is also partnering with universities, local organizations, businesses, and entrepreneurs to empower people by transforming social and economic environments in and around Ferguson.

Reminding people that there is still work to be done in the community is another goal of Incubate Ferguson. After the organization is officially recognized as a Missouri nonprofit, it will open a storefront in the city, and work on making visible changes. For more information, contact Rev. Steve Lawler at incubateferguson@gmail.com.